Helmi Technologies

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Helmi Technologies, Inc.
Type Private company
Founded Oulu, Finland, Finland (2004)
Headquarters Cupertino, California, United States of America
Key people Juho Risku, Founder in 2004, CEO between 2004 - 2006
Industry Software
Products Helmi Open Source RIA Platform
Employees 13 as of October 1, 2006
Slogan Making Impossible Easy
Website www.helmi.com

Helmi Technologies and its predecessor, Visualway Design evolved from the desire of Finnish user interface(UI) designers and software engineers to build high-impact web-based applications and sites on an open source platform.

Visualway Design was founded in 1996 and developed its first AJAX-type e-commerce application in 1997. This software featured layer-based windowing support, client-side payment systems, multiple browser support, and the ability to share information with other applications. During 2001 Visualway started development of it's Virtual Browser, an application independent of browsers and UI components to be used across many platforms and devices. The patent applications for Virtual Browser were filed in 2003 and patent was granted in 2006.

In 2004, Helmi Technologies separated from Visualway Design, with Helmi receiving its first round of venture capital and opening an office in Silicon Valley, California in 2005. Helmi Technologies announced the release it's product as open source at AJAX world Conference and Expo in October, 2006, and joined the Eclipse Foundation as an Add-In Provider.

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[edit] History

Founded by Juho Risku in 1996 as Visualway Design, as a digital media design agency. Visualway developed its first AJAX-type e-commerce application in 1997. The software featured layer-based windowing, client-side payment systems, multiple browser support and the ability to share information with other applications.

Between 1998 and 2001 Visualway concentrates on software for its own internal use, an advanced version of DynAPI. During 2001 Visualway starts to develop its Virtual Browser, while working on this Visualway begins developing plug-ins for Macromedia Dreamweaver. Helmi technologies receives Macromedia Approved Certification in 2003 for the plug-ins.

In 2004 Helmi technologies becomes an independent company from Visualway Design, to meet the growing need for RIA application development solutions. Its at this time that Helmi technologies files for a patent on Virtual Browser and releases the first version, with the first version of the UI component library released in 2005.

With global demand for RIA solutions Helmi Technologies opens its Silicon Valley branch in 2005, after receiving it first round venture capital. Helmi Technologies commences work on version 2.0 of Virtual Browser receiving its patent in 2006. In October 2006 Helmi release the patented 2.0 version to the open source community and joins the Eclipse Foundation.

[edit] Products

Helmi Technologies offers Helmi Open Source RIA Development Platform – open source, AJAX-based platform for creating Rich Internet Applications.

The Helmi Open Source RIA Platform supports the rapid creation of highly interactive web-based applications by leveraging developers' existing skills and the development environments they are familiar with. Java developers can work with AJAX experts without needing to learn Javascript, DHTML, or variants of XML. The Helmi platform enables the reuse UI components across applications. It also allows client- and server-side engineers to communicate effectively through an object-oriented environment, while working independently. Platform also includes popular Open Source library called Prototype Javascript Framework.

[edit] Platform sub-components

  • User Interface Framework – a browser-based server independent user interface components for easy RIA application development. It can be used either together Helmi's server integration framework including all the supported server platforms, or any other backend system. User interfaces using Helmi's UI Framework does not require client-side installation. It simplifies designing sophisticated applications, significantly improves RIA usability, and reduces HTML overhead. User interface framework incorporates patented Virtual Browser technology, which enables cross-browser application operations and extensive control over browser features. Applications can be developed independent of the browser and user interface components reused across platforms and devices. Virtual Browser operates at Document Object Model (DOM) level, thus minimizing browser DOM related compatibility issues.
  • Server Integration Framework – set of reference server implementations and integration components. Reference implemenations are available atleast for J2EE, .NET, PHP, Ruby and Python. Reference implementation and integration components will handle the AJAX communications invisibly from the developers point of view.
  • Programmers Integrated Development Environment (IDE) – allows UI designers and server developers to work independently in a shared, object-oriented environment. Server developers can create and integrate RIAs within the J2EE server development paradigm while user interface designers can work in visual mode through layout and revision cycles, continuously previewing application "look and feel" without needing to touch Java code. The Helmi IDE is a full customized distribution of Eclipse and set of J2EE and AJAX development required plugins.

Right now the User Interface Framework portion of Helmi Open Source RIA Development Platform is in stable general availability level. Other portions are either in beta stage or not yet been released to open source community.

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[edit] News links in Finnish

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